Call to Action: Medicaid Transportation

Medicaid patients, consumer advocates and stakeholders from across New Jersey have been waiting too long for the state to release its Request for Proposals (RFP) for the new Non-Emergency Medicaid Transportation (NEMT) contract. Although the Department of Human Services has been responsive in seeking public input and pushing the RFP’s release, the Treasury Department appears unmotivated to take action and release the RFP.

The period to submit public comment ended over 14 months ago. We expect the new RFP to require a much higher level of service, including improvements in technology and transparency. Yet these progressive changes sit on a shelf while beneficiaries continue to suffer under the current system. Poor access to transportation leads to poor access to care and ultimately impacts a person’s health. It also creates waste in the system. The state and taxpayers are ultimately paying for services that patients deserve but are not getting. New Jersey can do better.

Furthermore, continued delays to the RFP release will create a difficult transition to a new contract and broker. Even after the RFP is released, it will take at least 6-8 months to judge responses, select and contract with a broker, and plan a responsible transition. A rushed transition could create chaos on July 1, 2016 when the new contract begins.

Please join us in asking Acting Treasurer Robert Romano to take immediate action by releasing the RFP.

To show your support for the release of the RFP, please review and send the attached letter with your organizational information to the Good Care Collaborative at Shabnam Salih. We will be collecting them and sending on behalf of the GCC.